Treatment and Prevention of Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for eastern equine encephalitis; clinical management is supportive. Patients with severe meningeal symptoms often require pain control for headaches and antiemetic therapy and rehydration for associated nausea and vomiting. Patients with encephalitis require close monitoring for the development of elevated intracranial pressure, seizures, and inability to protect their airway.

Prevention

No eastern equine encephalitis virus vaccines are available for use in humans. In the absence of a vaccine, prevention of eastern equine encephalitis depends on personal protective measures to decrease exposure to infected mosquitoes. This includes using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, treating clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin, and taking steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors. More information about preventing mosquito bites can be found on the CDC Mosquitoes website.

Eastern equine encephalitis virus has been documented to be transmitted through solid organ transplantation and likely can be transmitted through blood transfusions. People recently diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis should not donate blood for 120 days (4 months) after their illness.

Eastern equine encephalitis virus infections temporally associated with organ transplantation or blood transfusion should be reported promptly to the appropriate state or local health department.